Day Two Ends in Grand Fashion for Long Jumper

By Scott Bush

It was another fantastic evening of track and field on day two in Rio. The Olympic Games carried on, with a variety of finals and semi-finals throughout the day. While Team USA showed very well from start to finish, it was long jumper Jeff Henderson who was good as gold for the Americans.

Heading into his final jump, Henderson sat behind South Africa's Luvo Manyonga, reigning Olympic champion Greg Rutherford (GBR) and fellow American Jarrion Lawson. With intense concentration written across his face, Henderson shot down the long jump runway, hit and soared in the air, landing at 8.38m, one centimeter ahead of then leader Manyonga. Henderson shot up from the bit, ecstatic, sprinting back and forth between the stands and the track.

While Lawson gave Henderson's mark a challenge on his final attempt, just brushing the sand with his hand (the rest of his body passed Henderson's best), it was the 27 year old who claimed gold and Henderson celebrated around the track waiving the American flag. What a night!

Top Five Results - Men's Long Jump

8.38m - Jeff Henderson (USA)
8.37m - Luvo Manyonga (RSA)
8.29m - Greg Rutherford (GBR)
8.25m - Jarrion Lawson (USA)
8.17m - Jianan Wang (CHN)